Winter NAMM 2005: Spotlight on Atomic Amps

By Rick Messock
Photos by Brent Peters for Modern Guitars Magazine

Atomic Amps has a nuclear-powered better idea. With the proliferation of amp modelers, many musicians have found that while modelers are great for recording, they can be difficult to use in live performances. The problem is that plugging your modeler into a conventional amplifier introduces color and equalization from the amplifier's preamp, power amp, speakers, and cabinet.

Atomic set out to build an amp that would let the modeler act as the front end of the amplification system and feed its output into a power amp and cabinet that would accurately amplify the front end signal. Atomic Amps used a Line 6 POD to demonstrate its system.

In addition, they created a clever system to mount the modeler (templates are available for several modeler brands) so that it looks and operates just like a real combo amplifier. Atomic provides connectors for the modeler so that it can be mounted into a housing that then snaps right into an open bay on the power amp.

All connections are routed through a single port that resembles a parallel printer port. Atomic provides a neat, clean solution to the guitarist who wants to use his modeler in a live performance.

A Hallmark guitar was kept on hand for demonstrations of the Atomic Amp system.